Melissa Ellin

PATH Crisis Center in Bloomington will take a step away from leading an area homeless services organization, but it will remain part of it. Interim CEO and Executive Director Adam Carter emphasizes the nonprofit's doors will not close.

Data shows that around 17% of people in Illinois have experienced long COVID as of March, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Finding data more granular — say, for central Illinois, or even McLean County — is a little trickier.

PATH board president Rod Ebert said Tuesday they are "shocked and deeply saddened" that the Bloomington-based nonprofit will be losing the statewide 988 call center grant.

PATH has blundered multiple grant opportunities in recent months. Now, it's lost out on $9.5 million and the chance to be the state's backup 988 call center for another year.

Bloomington wants to partner with Home Sweet Home to put around $1 million in federal grant money toward shelter improvements. That includes solar panels, potential shelter expansion and the development of a non-congregate shelter for those currently encamped across the city.

An encampment in an overflow parking lot of Eastview Christian Church's Community Center in Bloomington is growing and now has a waitlist. CEO Matt Burgess says it's so the encampment stays at a safe, manageable size.

Integrity Counseling was founded on a pay-your-way model to help those who lack the funds to access therapy in McLean County. The nonprofit is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

There are unhoused families with children across McLean County — and neighboring Livingston County — in need of support, said the five panelists from area schools and social service agencies. Each of the panelists explained they are doing the best with what they have, but it’s not enough.

The Baby Fold in Normal has served McLean County for over a century, and now, it’ll do so from an additional location in Bloomington called the Center of Excellence. The nonprofit will use the space at 1701 W. Market St. to host training surrounding trauma-informed care.

County Board Chair Catherine Metsker said she thinks the county's behavioral health advisory group lacks structure, and she’s tackling the issue head-on. Her self-identified “ambitious goal” is to formalize policies and procedures for the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council — for the first time in its history — and she wants to get it done in under six months.